No action taken on former Ukip councillor who claimed 'gay marriage caused floods'

Former Ukip councillor who claimed "gay marriage cause floods" given
slap on wrist by council over claims

David Silvester was suspended and then expelled from UKIP in February, after writing a letter to a newspaper blaming the floods earlier this year on David Cameron’s decision to legalise equal marriagePhoto: FlipMedia/ YouTube

By Nicky Harley, and Anna Roberts

7:23PM BST 22 Aug 2014

A former Ukip councillor who blamed the floods on the Government's decision to legalise gay marriage has been let off with a warning.

David Silvester was suspended and then expelled from UKIP in February, after writing a letter to a newspaper blaming the floods earlier this year on David Cameron’s decision to legalise equal marriage.

An investigation into his conduct by South Oxfordshire District Council has reached the conclusion that no action will be taken.

It has advised him that he must not “risk” the council’s reputation by using his title in personal correspondence.

He has remained an independent town councillor in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

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In a letter to his local paper he said he had warned David Cameron the legislation would result in "disaster" and said the prime minister had acted "arrogantly against the Gospel".

"It is his fault that large swathes of the nation have been afflicted by storms and floods," he said.

In February UKIP said Mr Silvester's views were "not the party's belief" but defended his right to state his opinions.

Mr Silvester, from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, had defected from the Tories in protest at Mr Cameron's support for same-sex unions.

A council spokesman said: “The council's monitoring officer has decided to take no further action on the complaints. She has accepted the investigator's view that Councillor Silvester was not acting in his official capacity when he wrote his letter.

“She has, however, written to Councillor Silvester to warn him that using his honorific title in personal correspondence is not advisable as it lays his reputation and that of the town council open to unnecessary risk.”